Cluster breaker for cherries



Mh 4', 1958 A. J. GoTELLl ETAL 2$825,375

CLUSTER BREAKER FOR CHERRIES Filed Dec. lO, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 BYLkw-@dew- A. J. GoTELLl ETAL 2,825,375

CLUSTER BREAKEIR FOR CHERRIES March 4, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.l0, 1956 United States Patent f CLUSTER BREAKER Fon cnnnnrns Alvin J.Gotelli and Melvin W. Oueto, Stockton, Calif.,

assiguors to Cueto-Gotelli Co., Stockton, Calif., a copartnershipApplication December 10,1956, Serial No. 627,270

17 Claims. (Cl.

This invention relates in general to apparatus for use in the freshcherry packing industry.

Fresh cherries, as picked, are frequently in compound or cluster form;i. e., two or more individual fruits whose stems are connected togetherat the opposite end. Before such cherries are packed in a box forshipment to the market it is necessary that they be singularlyseparated, but with the stems remaining attached to the fruit. This isaccomplished by splitting or cutting the stems apart at or neat` thepoint of connection.

Apparatus for this purpose is known as a cluster breaker; the presentinvention being particularly directed to, and a major object being toprovide, an improved power driven apparatus of such type.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a clusterbreaker which includes-in each of a multiplicity of units embodied inthe apparatusa driven rotary saw and novel mechanism operative to pickup the stems of cherry clusters moving on, and advancing with, aconveyor and to orient and guide such stems so that the saw cuts themlapart at or near the point of connection.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a cluster breaker,as in the preceding paragraph, wherein each such unit comprises-in novelcombination with the rotary saw-a pick-up finger adapted to receive andso orient and guide the cherry clusters as they move toward the saw; thefruit remaining on the adjacent conveyor, the stems straddling saidnger, and the point of connection remaining above the finger forseverance by the saw.

Still another object. of the invention is to provide a cluster breakerwherein each such unit includes additionally a novel deector disposedahead of the4 saw and above the pick-up finger; such deilectorfunctioning not only to assure of straddling of each picked-up clusterover the linger, but also prevents the fruit from riding into-and beingundesirably cut by-said saw.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cluster breaker whichis constructed so that it may be used in conjunction with a conventionalor existing type of endless belt sorting conveyor.

Itis also an object of the invention to provide a cluster breaker whichis designed for ready and economical manufacture and long service with aminimum of maintenance or repair being required.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a practical,reliable, and durable cluster breaker, and one which will be exceedinglyeffective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such struc-n Fig. 2 is atop-plan of the same, foreshortenedlboth longitudinallyand transversely.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal elevation, partly insection, showing one of the cluster breakV ing units, of which theapparatus includes a multiplicity.`

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation, mainly in section, showingthe manner of mounting of one of the'` saws on the related cross shaft,and the extent of dependency of the lower portion of the saw into theadjacent slotted pick-up finger. Y

vFig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing, in front elevation, oneof the pick-up linger supporting clamps; the finger being in section. j

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and; to the charactersof reference marked thereon, the cluster' breaker as here shown isespecially adapted for user inV connection with an endless belt sortingconveyor, indi-Y cated generally at 1, and which includes transversely.spaced side beams 2 between Whichthere extends the upper run 3 of adriven endless sorting belt. Said'upper run 3 of the endless sortingbelt travels in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, and inoperation sup ports and advances picked fresh cherries, many of whichare in clusters.

The present invention provides a cluster breaker, forv cooperation withthe conveyor 1, which comprises open rectangular frame 4 havinglongitudinal side beams 5 and transverse end beams 6 secured together inrigid. relation. The frame 4 is disposed lengthwise and in overlyingrelation to the conveyor 1, with the longitudinal l side beams S--whichare of angle iron-Seating on the side beams of said conveyor 1. Withthis arrangement the frame 4-which supports all of the mechanism of thecluster breaker-is elfectively yet simply mounted in' connection withthe conveyor 1, and for cooperation `of` the cluster breaker therewith.v

VAt longitudinally spaced points the cluster breaker frame 4 carriesfull-width cross shafts 7 whose end por- 'tions are provided withjournals 8 vertically adjustably mounted on corresponding posts 9upstanding from the longitudinal side beams 5; vertical adjustment ofeach journal 8 being accomplished by means including opposed screws 10.

Adjacent but ahead (relative to the direction of travel of Vthe upperrun 3) of each cross shaft 7 and parallell thereto, there is a cross rod11 tted at the ends with' slide blocks 12 vertically adjustably'mountedin'xed; guides 13 which upstand from the longitudinal side beams 5; theblocks 12 being vertically adjustable by opposed screws 14. n A crossbar 1S is disposed slightly to the rear, and some'f distance above, eachcross shaft'l; such cross bar bein'gn iitted at each end with a slottedbracket 16 vertically adjustably bolted, as at 17, to the face of :theadjacent post 9. Y AEach cross shaft 7 carries a row of transverselyspaced rotary or circular saws 18 whose equi-distant spacing ismaintained by spacer sleeves 19; the assembly of saidrotary saws 18 andspacer sleeves 19 being axiallyf` clamped, on the related cross shaft 7,between a iixeli collar 20 at one end and a locking nut 21 at the other'end; such nut being threaded on said cross shaft. The rotary saws 18 oneach cross shaft 7 are in .transl versely staggered relation to thecorresponding saws on the adjacent cross shafts, whereby to run indifferent vertie. cal longitudinal planes.

All of the cross shafts 7, and the rotary saws..18 thereon, aresimultaneously driven in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3;this being accomplished by an endless belt and pulley assembly,indicated gen@ erally at 22, which extends `between said cross shafts 7at one end thereof and an electric motor 23 mounted on a platform 24secured to one corner of the frarnepfl,"V

The individual rotary Vsaivsrls comprise""oneofftl1`e 1 Yeltiftltsfgf.klstr brakig unitveah .iadicatedsen Y erally at 25, ofwhichV the apparatus includes a multithefdriven endless srting'belt.YThe rearward orfree ywitha longitudinalslot 28"in'which` thelower'portion of and theirV reflatiyeV 'transversely staggered relation,each plicity; the'nurnber of saidvcluster breaking units 25- carriedbyeehtransversef assembly of@ .cross shaft-7,V

'rsftw@ ranspfawawad; incline' and terminates t iisl free orhrearward.end :substantially at or in light'f-touchf ingengagementl-:withthesurface of" the upperrun`3 of Y eidlprtioof thempickup iingerfkleistapered, as shown,

.Intermediate its` ends the pick-up linger 26 is formedy the relatedrotary sawr18 runs; this relationshipofthe parts f beingV Yaccomplishedby appropriate adju's'tr'nen'tY .of

the' cross ,shaft 7; 'cross' rod 11,V and theclamp V27.,

QThe cross bar 15has aiiixed thereto, andY directly to Ward'lyt'oralower end termination closely adjacent butl spaced V.fr oin'thecorresponding pick-upv linger 26.{ The Ysaiav'g'iiardand fruit'delico-tor 29. is 'alined with thecorre- Y *i sponding pick-up iinger 26in a longitudinal vertical plane,v

ad nl Vthebackside-i. e.; facing contraV to the direc-` j tion ofVtravel ofjth-e'pper 'ruil 3 of the endless 'sorting belt-.saiddeliector is VV-shaped inrpla'n, whereby to pro-VV yifdffrwardlydiverging dfiecting surfaces.VVV K Additionall'y. the vdetiector29fisrounded rearwardly and'upwardlyat thelower'end, as at 30.

`I1 Asj'offthe" abovedes'cribed cluster breaker each Vof thernu'ltiplicityl.of Y cluster breaking iinits'25'fu'nctions` Y irithefollowir'ig'manner', vand as shown in VFig. 43;

The upper run 3 VVof the KAdriven endless sorting belt is fedthepicke'd'fr'esh cherries, 'which are spread out rather j looselyon thebelt so that 'no' pile-up exists; many kof Y ple-generally at 3 1thecherriesbeing in .clusters,was` indicated-for exam-V jextending from`Ytheicorresponding v fruit 33 to a point ofi vconnection`3 4.; As 't heYupper run 3 moves forwardly,

thejricherry. clustersl are correspondingly advancd.

sfef the multiplicity fof cluster breaking units -275 VYdie nager; theVvrruit `33L remaining Aon thenp'pen run 3 t.

and'cntinui to advance'therewith. As the fruit 33m' Y, advances?thelfinger 'straddling' cluster 31Y is'Y likewise" f erware umn thepein'f'efconnection V34 reachesto assurethat the Y cutting operationis whollyeffective, Y

With such .operation thefruit3`3---With-Y the nowcutapart?.stems@,.32a'frernaining thereon--continues` v to adY Y Vancesaidzpperrn- 3,-be`ing subsequentlyremoved nection with the support'.

" runningfin' said-slot.v Y Y v. v i i, Y, :Y

9. A cherry cluster breaking unit comprlsing, inV Vasso-. Y

pikedupwcherrycluster 3 1gwill be deected laterally"- away from theplane of the adjacent YsawV 18 and onto the upper run 3 in order thatthe cluster may be proprerly advanced and severed by said saw at thepointof connection 34. s Y

i From the foregoing description itrwill be'r'eadilyY seen that'therehas been produced such an apparatus srwill substantiallyfullillV the'objectsj of the invention, as set Vforth herein. g While Vthisspecification setstorth in detail the presenti' and preferredconstruction of the apparatus,"still"i i1jV prac i tiCesuchVdeviationstherefromrnay be resorted't as Vdo not form a departure fromthe spirit of the iriventit ^nV as deiined bythe appended claims. A

Having thus describedl the inventiomthe following isV claimed as new andusefuhfand'upon which Letters Patent are desired: l v 1. A- cherrycluster 'breakingvunitcomprising; inaass ciation'with a driven conveyorbeltadaptedito receive andadvance said clusters, a support adjacent/fthe.beltgla longitudinal cluster pick-up nger disposedv aboyeisjthebelg-.means mountingtheynger in connectionV withrithe'f support, thefinger eirtendi'ng free rearwardlyfror'n the-V mountingnrneans, and acluster separating; cutter cooper:v Y

ating'withnthe finger intermediate its ends. L

`2'. A cherrycluster breaking'unifas'in ALyin". *i

which vtheinger inclines downwardlyv to its rear end, and such end beingclosely adjacent the-belt;

whichV an Vadjacent portion of the'iingeristapered toward said rearend.Y Y 4. cherry Vcluster breakingunit comprisingin jassociation with adrivenV conveyor 'belt adaptedtoreceive and advance. saidJclusters, asupportijadjacentithe'belt;

a .longitudinal cluster pi'ckup linger disposedV above the belt;means-mounting th'ehiinger in *conn'eetion withtlie support, the fingerVextendingfree rearwardlyfromthe IriountingV means, a cluster'vseparating cutterY cooperating with the finger intermediate' its ends,a Vfruit det-'lector disposed rearwardly ofthe cutter but ahead of therejardend of th finger, and means. v A

V5. VAf cherry cluster .b eakiiigV unit, Yas Vinr'claim2tlg:in.kk

Y which Asaid in`gei',cutter, andV deflector are alined longitudinallyofthe direction .of travel ofthe belti the'diector 1 terminating' at itsVVlower end. adjacent v'but clear ofY ithe'Y 6. AA cherryclustrfbijeaking unit,Y Vas inclairn/4 4,in

which the' deector terminates ati its' lowerY endadjacent"y and invertical'alinenient with thveiing'er but clear thereof;

vide forwardly diyerg'ingi'workingrfaces, Y Y 7. A cherryV cluster`breaking unit comprising;A -in/ assof ciation with `a driven conveyorbelt adapted to receive and advance said clusters, a support adjacentthe belt, alon- Vgitudinal cluster pick-up iinger .disposed-above thebelt',Y

means mounting the linger in connection with thersupport,

the finger extending freeV rearwardly: from the mounting i means; andadriven rotary cutter'cooperating withth'ef, Ylinger intermediateitsfendsaiid from'above'. Y Y 1 8.l A cherry cluster breaking unit,.asin clajin. 7, iii-Y 1 Y whichthe rotary cutter has its axisdisposedjtransversely of-theiinger'; the latterhaving aVlongitudinalslot thereinf from' the top, andthe lower portion of therotary cutter ciation with a drivenconveyor belt adapted; to receive and'advanceV said clusters,v a support adjacentAV thefbelt,V a longitudinalcluster pick-up inger disposed Vabove the; belt, means mounting theYlinger in connection Withthe support, the finger extending freerearwardlyifroni' the mounting means, a driven .transverse @shaftab'oveqtl'ie linger, means journaling the shaft onth'e'support, 'and arotary saw onthe shaft inY vertical alinementf anclfc'c-Y operating withthe tinger intermediateitsends. f l;

. nA cherry cluster breakingvunit,A asY i'11Y,clairn-2` in". Y

mounting the deflector incon# 10. A cherry cluster breaking unitcomprising, in asso ciation with a driven conveyor belt adapted toreceive and advance said clusters, a support adjacent the belt, alongitudinal cluster pick-up finger disposed above the belt, meansmounting the finger in connection with the support, the finger extendingfree rearwardly from the mounting means, a driven transverse shaft abovethe finger, means journaling the shaft on the support, a rotary saw onthe shaft in vertical alinement and cooperating with the fingerintermediate its ends, a saw guard and fruit deector disposed inlongitudinal alinement and rearwardly of the saw but ahead of the rearend of the finger, and means mounting the saw guard and fruit deector inconnection with the support.

l1. A cherry cluster breaking unit, as in claim 10, in which said guardand defiector is vertically elongated and rearwardly Vd; the lower endthereof terminating adjacent but clear of the finger, and said end beingrearwardly and upwardly rounded.

12. A cherry cluster breaking unit comprising, in association with adriven conveyor belt adapted to receive and advance said clusters, aframe adjacent the belt, a driven transverse shaft extending above thebelt and journaled on the frame, a cross rod extending above the beltand secured to the frame, the cross rod being adjacent but ahead of thetransverse shaft, a longitudinal cluster pickup finger disposed abovethe belt, means attaching the finger at its forward end to the crossrod, the finger thence extending at a rearward and downward inclinebelow the cross shaft and to a free end termination rearwardly thereofand close to the belt, and a rotary saw on the shaft cooperating withthe finger.

13. A cherry cluster breaking unit, as in claim l2, in which the nger islongitudinally slotted from the top, and the lower portion of the sawrunning in the slot.

14. A cherry cluster breaking unit comprising, in association with adriven conveyor belt adapted to receive and advance said clusters, aframe adjacent the belt, a driven transverse shaft extending above thebelt and journaled on the frame, a cross rod extending above the beltand secured to the frame, the cross rod being adjacent but ahead of thetransverse shaft, a longitudinal cluster pick-up ringer disposed abovethe belt, means attaching the finger at its forward end to the crossrod, the finger thence extending at a rearward and downward inclinebelow the cross shaft and to a free end termination rearwardly thereofand close to the belt, a rotary saw on the shaft cooperating with thefinger, a cross bar extending above the belt and secured to the frame,said cross bar being disposed rearwardly of the transverse shaft andabove the linger, and a saw guard and fruit deiector fixed on the crossbar and depending in alinement rearward of the saw and to a lower endtermination adjacent but clear of said finger.

l5. A cherry cluster breaker comprising, in association with a drivenconveyor belt adapted to receive and advance said clusters, a pluralityof longitudinally spaced transverse rows of cluster breaking unitssupported above and cooperating with the belt, the corresponding unitsof adjacent rows being in staggered relation; each such unit including alongitudinal cluster pick-up linger inclined downwardly and rearwardlyto a free end termination close to the belt, and a cluster separatingcutter cooperating with the finger ahead of said free end.

16. In a machine to break cherry clusters each of which comprises atleast two cherries and stems projecting therefrom and connected togetherat their outer end, a cluster breaking unit comprising, in associationwith a driven conveyor belt adapted to receive and advance saidclusters, an elongated cluster pick-up nger disposed above and extendinglengthwise of the belt with a downward slope rearwardly relative to thedirection of movement of the belt to a termination adjacent the beltwhereby to straddle a cluster advancing with the belt and thus raise thepoint of connection of the stems above the finger, and a transverse-axisrotary cutter transversely alined with and above the linger intermediateits ends, said nger having a slot into which the cutter projects withoutdepending below the finger.

17. A cluster breaking unit, as in claim 16, in which the verticaldistance from the rear edge of the cutter adjacent the linger to thebelt is less than the length of any stem.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,608,973 Coons Sept. 2, 1952 2,621,690 Urschel Dec. 16, 1952 2,763,114Carruthers Sept. 18, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 242,040 Germany Dec. 27, 1911

